TNAG-2734-FCO40-3942-Hong-Kong-role-of-the-Legislative-Council-(LEGCO)-1993 — Page 170

UNCLASSIFIED

UNCLAS

HKB 012/3

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY

15 MAR 1993

pa. Leglo

012247 MDLIAN 6487

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PA

REGISTRY Acton Taken

TO PRIORITY FCO

FM HONG KONG

TELNO 301

OF 25081OZ FEBRUARY 93

INFO PRIORITY PEKING, UKREP JLG HONG KONG

17

Mis Sandora

CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: SZETO WAH'S QUESTION IN LEGCO :

LOCAL REACTION

1. THE SECRETARY FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS' REPLY TO SZETO WAH'S QUESTION IN LEGCO (TEXTS ALREADY FAXED TO HKD AND PEKING) RECEIVED PROMINENT MEDIA COVERAGE TODAY. MOST PAPERS REPORTED REACTION FROM LEGCO MEMBERS AND MAJOR POLITICAL GROUPS.

2.

MARTIN LEE (UDHK) TOLD THE PRESS THAT WE SHOULD GAZETTE THE OTHER BILL ON 26 FEB, ADDING THAT THE DEFERMENT FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS HAD BEEN SUFFICIENT TO SHOW OUR SINCERITY. HE DID NOT THINK THAT THE GAZETTAL WOULD AMOUNT TO THE BRITISH SIDE SETTING A PRE-CONDITION FOR THE TALKS.

3. ALLEN LEE (CRC) SAID IT WOULD BE MOST IMPORTANT TO RESUME TALKS. THE GAZETTAL COULD BE DELAYED BY A MONTH. HE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE DIFFICULTY FOR LEGCO TO DISCUSS THE PACKAGE WHEN SINO-BRITISH TALKS WERE UNDERWAY.

ACCORDING TO FRED LI (MEETING POINT), THE GROUP WOULD NOT BE TOTALLY OPPOSED TO DEFERMENT IN GAZETTAL IF IT WOULD HELP RE- OPENING TALKS. HE WAS QUOTED BY THE EXPRESS AS SAYING THE DEFERMENT SHOULD NOT BE A LONG ONE. THE GROUP WOULD PUT PRESSURE ON HKG IN EARLY MARCH IF THE BILL WAS NOT GAZETTED TOMORROW.

5.

TAM YIU-CHUNG (DAB) BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD BE COUNTER PRODUCTIVE IF WE RUSHED INTO GAZETTING THE BILL. HE SAID WITH THE SIGNS FOR RESUMPTION OF TALKS, WE HAD BETTER WAIT A FEW MORE DAYS. HE SUGGESTED THAT ONLY WHEN A COMPROMISE IN PRINCIPLE HAD BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES SHOULD WE GAZETTE THE PROPOSALS WHICH WOULD THEN BE PUT TO LEGCO.

6

FREDERICK FUNG (ADPL) THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT DEFERMENT IN GAZETTAL IF BOTH SIDES WERE CERTAIN TO RESUME TALKS. HE BELIEVED THE GAZETTAL COULD BE POSTPONED TO END OF MARCH, AFTER THE BUDGET DEBATE.